WEIGHT LOSS DISAGREEMENT

I had a friend disagree with me about the importance of consistency recently, especially when it comes to weight loss, and I wanted to address it because I think many people are under a misconception when it comes to being consistent when trying to lose weight.

For years, people have been reading, watching or listening to sources telling them that weight loss can be quick and easy if you just follow “XYZ Method” for a fast, effective way to drop pounds. 

And for many people, it works. “XYZ Method” helps them lose weight by following the “XYZ” food plan, the “XYZ” exercise program, possibly adding “XYZ Method Supplements” to their efforts, as well.     

The problem is that not everyone can SUSTAIN the “XYZ Method” in the REAL world for an extended period of time. It is also imperative to understand whether the “XYZ Method” is intended to be a long-term lifestyle; or a short-term weight loss situation where you then are left on your own to figure out how to maintain that weight loss.

This is where learning to be CONSISTENT is MORE IMPORTANT than strictly following the “XYZ Method” to the letter.

And in the context of what we’re discussing in this post, consistent means roughly 80% of the time you do the things that work for you – nutrition, exercise, stress management, etc. The other 20% allows for life and the unexpected circumstances we bump into sometimes.

I’m speaking directly to the busy moms right now, so bear with me. You have a healthy, nutritious dinner planned for yourself and your family. Your spouse calls and they are running late at work. Your oldest child has a sports practice they forgot to tell you about and they need to be there in 30 minutes. Your youngest is having a meltdown because they are hungry, tired and cranky. And by the time you get home after ALL OF THIS, the dog has puked on the living room rug and you’re spending the next 30 minutes cleaning that up. While you and your spouse also do the rest of the nighttime routine (homework, baths, chores, etc.).

How likely are you to cook that healthy, nutritious meal in this scenario?

Also, REALISTICALLY, how often does this actually happen to you?

For me, this was realistically a once a month occurrence. (And who knows, maybe I was just VERY unlucky with those things.)

But because I did NOT understand that it was more about consistency than following a healthy eating plan (“XYZ Method”) to the letter, I felt like a failure all the time because I couldn’t stick with it for more than a few weeks before we’d have a “disaster” that derailed my day, and subsequently, my whole program.

If I had understood that 20% of the time I was going to have some leniency, freedom, and room for error, I would have MENTALLY been prepared to chalk one of THOSE nights up as an error night, and move along.

But because the “XYZ Method” called for strict adherence to the program, when I deviated it was a struggle to jump back in and regain my momentum. Having the built in “cushion” of being able to eat a fast-food meal on a night when we were struggling to stay sane would have been much easier to handle.

And the beauty of consistency is it can actually look different for everyone.

Your version of consistency might be eating a strict meal plan 6 days and 1 cheat/treat day per week.

Or it might be once you’ve reached your fruit, veggie, protein, and grains goals each day you allow yourself a guilty pleasure like a cookie or a serving of chips.

Perhaps 4 meals per week are anything you want while the other 17 are more strictly controlled according to macro and micro-nutrient ratios. This is also assuming 3 meals per day, 7 days per week, not including snacks.

If you have active kids and know you’re going to be out running around most evenings being consistent might look like packing healthy fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds to snack on while knowing you’re probably going to be eating a small burger or a couple of slices of pizza for dinner.

This is why I keep “beating this dead horse” (as Hubs phrases it) for a reason – you need to find what consistently works for you so you are more likely to stick with it.

And I keep preaching this for busy moms because I KNOW this struggle.

To the moms who are able to follow the “XYZ Method” to the letter and not fall off, I salute you ladies!

I simply need more flexibility in my life. I need to know that if I stress-eat an entire bad of M&M’s while watching my daughter play a game where they are getting crushed (and I had fully expected to share that bag or make it last for at least 2 games), that I didn’t just wipe out an entire week of hard work and effort. My bag of M&M’s falls within the parameters of my 80/20 consistency efforts, and tomorrow I will be sure to drink my water, take my multi-vitamin, eat my fruits and veggies, get plenty of protein, exercise, and not let guilt send me into a spiral.

This is why we coach on consistency. Progress over Perfection. In real life, there are going to be hiccups, bumps in the road, obstacles and barriers. Choose your metaphor. Understanding that sticking with your healthy habits and routines 80% of the time is going to get you long-term results can make those 20% errors/leniency/life events easier to take in stride.

And if you’re ready to work on creating your own consistent, healthy habits, Book a FREE Consultation with me and find out how Health and Nutrition Coaching can help you.